Hair brush



Feb. 27, 1934. A. MITLEHNER HAIR BRUSH Filed Oct. 18, 1930 IN ENTOR Patented Feb. 27, 1 934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to hair brushes.

The object of my invention is to provide a brush which may be used as an ordinary brush in the usual manner, and which is also provided with means for applying electricity to the scalp to stimulate the growth of the hair.

A further object is to provide a construction that is easy to make and convenient to use.

Referring to the drawing which forms a part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a brush illustrating the preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view showing the parts of the construction as it appears in the top side of the brush.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

A indicates the lower side of the brush and supports all of the brush elements, the top portion B serving to inclose and carry said elements with the exception of the bristles C, and as a cover for the electrical elements.

The tufted bristles C are of the usual type used in brushes and are practically nonsconductors of electricity, and are located between the tufted wire bristles D, both kinds of bristles extending in transverse alternate rows. as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The bristles C are held in the wood or other material of which the portion A is made, in the usual manner, and the top ends of the bristles D extend thru said material and contact the :metal grid or frame conductor E, which is stamped from sheet copper or other suitable conducting material, preferably in the form shown, but this form may be changed without departing from the invention disclosed herein.

One of the important features of the construction is the arrangement of the bristles in the portion A to permit this part of the brush to be made independently of the top portion, and the top .portion to be made independent so that in making the brushes, the said parts are interchange- ;able, and the top may be repaired or inspected or exchanged for another top portion when required.

F indicates electrical conducting wires covered by insulating material as illustrated.

G indicates a light-bulb which serves as a resistance in the circuit, and is of a voltage capacity corresponding to the voltage used. It is exposed to view and emits light when the brush is operating electrically, thus informing the user that current is passing thru the brush. This lamp may also be employed as a switch, its removal breaking the circuit without disconnecting the wires F from the source of current supply.

H indicates an inductive resistance carried in the chamber I formed in the handle of the brush. The arms E of the grid extend over and press 9 against the upper ends of the bristles D when the portions A and B are clamped together by the screws J, thus obtaining positive electrical contact between the grid and the inner ends of the metal bristles as will be readily understood.

Constructed as above, the brush may be operated on either alternating or direct current and in either case the metal bristles D in contact with the conductor E serve to shunt a portion of the current from the conductor to the scalp under 9 treatment. However, the brush has particular advantage when operated on direct current flowing thru the resistance H and the grid E, causing an electrical discharge at the lower ends of the bristles D, and thence thru the resistance lamp 5 G on the return side of the circuit thru the brush. W When so used, the luminousity of the lamp G will vary, giving visual indication of the amount of current being by-passed thru the metal bristles to the scalp.

By providing the resistance lamp on the return side of the circuit, the user is protected against shock in case the polarity is reversed, as when the terminal ends of the wires F are improperly connected. Also, I may vary the strength of the 5 treatment by deliberately passing the current first to the lamp G and thence thru the conductor E by substituting lamps of varying resistant capacities, and I have found advantage in indexing the several lamps by differently coloring their glass bulbs, a red color for a lamp of low resistance, green for high resistance, etc.

The construction and use of inductive resistance elements is well known and therefore requires no especial description.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new:

1. A brush of the character described having metal bristles, a metal conductor arranged to bear in electrical contact against the inner ends Q9 of said bristles, a resistance device connected to each end of the conductor and wires connecting the resistance devices to an external source of electric current supply to complete a circuit thru said conductor.

2. A brush of the character described comprising an upper and a lower insulated body portion held together in separable relation, one of said portions being recessed to form a chamber between them and the lower portion having metal f bristles held therein, a metal conductor in said to complete a reduced circuit thru said conduc chamber arranged to bear in electrical contact tor.

against the inner ends of said bristles, a resist- 3. The structure defined in claim 1; one of said ance device connected to each end of the conducresistances comprising a removable resistance 5 tor and wires connecting the resistance devices lamp.

to an external source of electric current supply ANTON MITLEHNER. 

